As time goes on and we experience the joys and blessings along with the disappointments and losses in life it gives reason to ponder the reality of just how brief our stay here in this life can be. I had been giving myself to just those kind of thoughts one day when I began writing the song "Last Time For Everything". I wrote the first verse and chorus ... I felt a strong connection to the words as they flowed from my heart through my pen to the paper. But as life will do, I got busy and became distracted on to other things ... you know how it is.
Believe it or not, I got the beginnings of "Last Time For Everything" before the tragic events that occurred on 9/11. After emotionally digesting the magnitude of that world changing day, I remembered the song I had started writing a few months before. I thought about the lyrics ..."I still taste his kiss, warm on my lips. Feel fire in his touch. And the love that I miss. Hear those three little words each time he said good-bye. It's like he always knew what I now realize. There's a Last Time For Everything A tomorrow that never comes. A moment you never dreamed could leave so many dreams undone. One thing in life is certain. It's not as certain as it seems. So while there's blue sky above you. Take the time to say I Love You ... There's a Last Time For everything."
It made me think of the firemen, the police officers who gave their lives. The innocent victims that worked in the towers. The families, wives, children, brother, sisters, mothers, aunt uncles, friends who were left in shock and devastated. I dug my song out and decided to finish it in honor of those who had passed and those who were left to continue on.
The next day I had an appointment to write with my great friend Curtis Wright. I played him what I had and he loved it and connected to it deeply too because his sister had just passed away. He was still in his grieving and period of accepting and understanding. Although I had really wanted to finish my song on my own, something told me that of all the people on this earth, Curtis was who I wanted to finish the song with. He was at my door that day for a reason. We have been great friends for years and we both have a heart-bond that only comes from true friendship. We sat together at my kitchen table and finished it in no time. We always get inspired when we are together.
Curtis did a demo of it on his next session. He sang a version and so did I. I loved that it was recorded for people to to hear. I secretly wished that I could be the one to bring this message to the world. But I stayed open to the idea of pitching it to other artists and getting a cut by someone who was currently reaching the public with their music.
Some more time passed, and I happened to be having lunch with my long time legendary friend, Bobby Braddock! He has always been such a sincere and loyal supporter of me and my music and my songs. He was talking about how much he loved my song "Last Time For Everything", as well as a few others, and he offered to book a recording session to produce three tracks on me. I was so excited! We had all the best players lined up to record! It was perfect! I was getting to be in the studio recording and on top of that I was working with one of the greatest talents in the industry who just happened to be one of my all time best of best best friends! ! !
I was so excited and geared up for the session. Then out of the blue, Raymond, my wonderful husband got an early morning phone call about the sudden death of his dad, Jim Webb. Jim had had a heart attack. It was heart breaking and horrifying news. We were numb from the unbelievably sad news.
Raymond's family is so sweet and caring. Jim was a jewel of a person and everyone who ever knew him loved him and thought the world of him. There is nothing Jim wouldn't do to help a friend. He was just that kind of person, so real and so kind.
Earlene, Raymond's sweet Mother was just devastated. In fact, the whole family was in shock. I had no intention of missing out on honoring Jim at his memorial service and funeral. I wanted to be there with all my heart. I was planning on it. But I got a call from Earlene and she told me Jim loved me and loved my music and he would not have had it any other way but for me to stay and do my session with Bobby. She insisted. Raymond insisted. I really wanted to go to Texas to be with my family there, but they wanted me to follow through with my plans to record. So I did, but it was very difficult. When it came time to sing "Last Time For Everything" of course I was thinking of Earlene and Jim. It was very emotional for me. The loss of Jim was so immediate and so close to home. It was difficult to make it through the song that night in the studio, but I did and as I sang, I felt it was a tribute to Jim and Earlene.
The whole experience made me think of so may loved ones who have come and gone ... so many irreversible moments in time. I watched as my Mother lost my Daddy, then later her sweet Billy, her baby brother, her sisters. I have lost many friends, such as Don Gant, Merlin Littlefield, Shel Silverstein, Eddie Struzick, Danny West and other family members like my brother n law and great musician, Wesley Stafford. Even the loss of our pets can create a tremendous void in our lives. It makes you realize all we really have in this world is each other. The bottom line is 'While there's blue sky above you ... take the time to say I love you ... cause There's a Last Time For everything'.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this and for listening to this song which means so much to me.
I would love to hear your feelings about what you hear.
Love and happiness always,
Click here to post to our comment form.
Believe it or not, I got the beginnings of "Last Time For Everything" before the tragic events that occurred on 9/11. After emotionally digesting the magnitude of that world changing day, I remembered the song I had started writing a few months before. I thought about the lyrics ..."I still taste his kiss, warm on my lips. Feel fire in his touch. And the love that I miss. Hear those three little words each time he said good-bye. It's like he always knew what I now realize. There's a Last Time For Everything A tomorrow that never comes. A moment you never dreamed could leave so many dreams undone. One thing in life is certain. It's not as certain as it seems. So while there's blue sky above you. Take the time to say I Love You ... There's a Last Time For everything."
It made me think of the firemen, the police officers who gave their lives. The innocent victims that worked in the towers. The families, wives, children, brother, sisters, mothers, aunt uncles, friends who were left in shock and devastated. I dug my song out and decided to finish it in honor of those who had passed and those who were left to continue on.
The next day I had an appointment to write with my great friend Curtis Wright. I played him what I had and he loved it and connected to it deeply too because his sister had just passed away. He was still in his grieving and period of accepting and understanding. Although I had really wanted to finish my song on my own, something told me that of all the people on this earth, Curtis was who I wanted to finish the song with. He was at my door that day for a reason. We have been great friends for years and we both have a heart-bond that only comes from true friendship. We sat together at my kitchen table and finished it in no time. We always get inspired when we are together.
Curtis did a demo of it on his next session. He sang a version and so did I. I loved that it was recorded for people to to hear. I secretly wished that I could be the one to bring this message to the world. But I stayed open to the idea of pitching it to other artists and getting a cut by someone who was currently reaching the public with their music.
Some more time passed, and I happened to be having lunch with my long time legendary friend, Bobby Braddock! He has always been such a sincere and loyal supporter of me and my music and my songs. He was talking about how much he loved my song "Last Time For Everything", as well as a few others, and he offered to book a recording session to produce three tracks on me. I was so excited! We had all the best players lined up to record! It was perfect! I was getting to be in the studio recording and on top of that I was working with one of the greatest talents in the industry who just happened to be one of my all time best of best best friends! ! !
I was so excited and geared up for the session. Then out of the blue, Raymond, my wonderful husband got an early morning phone call about the sudden death of his dad, Jim Webb. Jim had had a heart attack. It was heart breaking and horrifying news. We were numb from the unbelievably sad news.
Raymond's family is so sweet and caring. Jim was a jewel of a person and everyone who ever knew him loved him and thought the world of him. There is nothing Jim wouldn't do to help a friend. He was just that kind of person, so real and so kind.
Earlene, Raymond's sweet Mother was just devastated. In fact, the whole family was in shock. I had no intention of missing out on honoring Jim at his memorial service and funeral. I wanted to be there with all my heart. I was planning on it. But I got a call from Earlene and she told me Jim loved me and loved my music and he would not have had it any other way but for me to stay and do my session with Bobby. She insisted. Raymond insisted. I really wanted to go to Texas to be with my family there, but they wanted me to follow through with my plans to record. So I did, but it was very difficult. When it came time to sing "Last Time For Everything" of course I was thinking of Earlene and Jim. It was very emotional for me. The loss of Jim was so immediate and so close to home. It was difficult to make it through the song that night in the studio, but I did and as I sang, I felt it was a tribute to Jim and Earlene.
The whole experience made me think of so may loved ones who have come and gone ... so many irreversible moments in time. I watched as my Mother lost my Daddy, then later her sweet Billy, her baby brother, her sisters. I have lost many friends, such as Don Gant, Merlin Littlefield, Shel Silverstein, Eddie Struzick, Danny West and other family members like my brother n law and great musician, Wesley Stafford. Even the loss of our pets can create a tremendous void in our lives. It makes you realize all we really have in this world is each other. The bottom line is 'While there's blue sky above you ... take the time to say I love you ... cause There's a Last Time For everything'.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this and for listening to this song which means so much to me.
I would love to hear your feelings about what you hear.
Love and happiness always,
Click here to post to our comment form.
